Brake beam with nut lock and retainer means



July 18, 1950 c..R. MoLlNE BRAKE BEAM WITH NUT LOCK AND RETAINER MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

'Filed May '1, 1946 July 18, 1950 Q R MQLlNE 2,515,886

BRAKE BEAM WITH NUT LOCK AND RETAINER MEANS Filed May l, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 18, 1950 c. R. MOLINE BRAKE BEAM WITH NUT LOCK AND RETAINER MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 1, 1946 Patented July 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRAKE BEAM WITH NUTLOCKAND RETAINER MEAN S Carl R. Moline, Homewood, Ill., assignor to American ISteel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 1, 1946, Serial No. 666,356

My invention relates to brake beams employedy beams, it is especially advantageous in a brake beam assembly of the type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,391,329, entitled Brake Head Retaining Mechanism for Brake Beams, issued December 18, 1945. For the purpose of disclosure such an application of the invention will be described herein, no limitation by the specific disclosure being implied.

A, 'failure in the structure of a brake beam may be hazardous because it disrupts the operation of the brake system, or may be hazardous because pieces or parts of the brake beam assembly are thereby released to drop under the car wheels, or may be hazardous for both reasons at the same time. With increasing speeds of operation of modern trains the structural reliability of brake function. Thus, if one sub-combination com` prising parts A, B and C, and a second sub-com.- bination comprising parts A, B and D, both serve a structural function in common, say, the function of retaining a brake head in place on the end of the brake beam, then part C alone may fail or part D alone may fail without destroying that common function. The brake head will be retained in either event.

The general object of my invention is tcvembody this principle in a brake beam assembly, and it is my special purpose to provide such a number of functionally overlapping sub-combinations in the brake beam assembly, and such a variety of overlapping sub-combinations, as to afford ample reserve protection for the important focal points of stress in the break beam assembly.

One of the special objects of my invention is to provide a novel safeguard to be effective in the event that the tension member in a brake beam` assembly breaks in two. The new safeguard pre- 2 Claims." (Cl. 18S-224.1)

tained by providing a combined brake head re` tainer and nut lock that has the added function of blocking outward axial movement of the ten- Sion rod.

A feature of the preferred practice of my invention is that the structure added to the combined retainer and nut lock strengthens the com-f bined retainer for its other functions of retaining the brake head and preventing rotation of the nut. In my preferred practice I add to this combined retainer or multiple purpose retainer the fourth function of retaining a headed pin, as will be explained in my detailed description.

A brake beam assembly of the present type, as exemplified by the above-mentioned patent, in

cludes a retaining member that interconnects thev tension member and the compression member of y simple one-piece hangerl for this purpose that will' engage the compression member on which it is" mounted in such manner as to require but a single" rivet for its anchorage.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent in my detailed description to follow, taken with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which are to be regarded merely as illustrative:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a brake beam assembly'v incorporating the preferred form of my inven-A tion;

Fig. 2 is a section, on a greatly enlarged scale,

taken as indicated by the line 2--2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of one end of the brake beam assembly on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a View of the end portion of a brake beam, partly in plan and partly in section, show? ing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a combined brake head retainer and nut lock, the View being partly broken away and being taken as indicated by the arrow 6 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 isa perspective view, on a reduced'scale.

of the combined brake head retainer and nut lock;

Fig. 8 is-a view similar to Fig. 3, showing an-l j other form ofthe invention;

Figs. 9 and 10 are transverse sections taken as indicated by the lines 9-9 and IIJ-4 0, respective 1y, in Fig. 8 and Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9, illustrating a modification of the structure in Fig. 8.

The brake beam assembly, generally designated by the numeral I I) in Fig. 1, includes the usual compression member lI that is channel shaped in cross-sectional configuration and the usual tension member t2, these two membersv being interconnected at the middle of the assembly by a strut or fulcrum member I3. The end portions of the compression member I I and tension member I2, at each end of the brake beam assembly, converge and are interconnected by a brake head I5, the brake head here shown being of the vsleeve head type.

As best shown in Fig. 3, each brake heady I5 has an outer portion or wall i'I that lfits closely around the periphery of the compression mem@ ber II. In this instance the compression member II is rounded in cross-sectional conguration, and the outer portion I'I of the brake head I5- conforms to the same curvature. The tension member .I2 at each end of the brake beam asfsembly extends through an inner cylindrical portion I8 of the brake head I5 and also through a coaxial opening 20. The usual hexagonalv nut 2l onthe end of the tension member i2 is in abutment with an outer inclined face 22 of the brake head, and serves as the primary means to main tain thel brake head in its assembled position. As will be explained, the nut is one of several expedients vto prevent separation oi the brake head from the rest of the brake beam assembly.

The construction of the brake head I5 as above described, and as thus shown in Fig. 3, provides a path of withdrawal of the tension member from the brake head that diverges from the compression'member, so that lateral movement of the tension member away from the compression member is required for separation of the tension member from the assembled brake head. Any means that will prevent such spreading apart of the compression member I,I and the tension member I2 Will, therefore, serve as a further expedient to prevent release ofthe brake headl I5 fromA its assembled position.

'In the present construction one such antispreadingl expedient comprises an interconnectingmeans or retaining means which may bein the'form of a C-shaped member 23. As shown in` Figs. 2 and 3, one end portion Z5 of the vC- shape'd anti-spreading member 23 is curved to lie snugly against the periphery of the compressiof'n member I I, and therefore only a single rivet 26 is required for securing these C-sh'aped meinbers to the compression member in a positive and rigid manner. The other endportion 2,;'II ofv the C-shapedinember 2.3 is curved to t the circumference oi'the rod-shaped tension member I2, and is also. inclined to conform yto the angle of the tension member. It is apparent that the C.- shaped member 23, inholding the ends of` the compression member Il and. tension member I2 against spreading away Afrom each other, con--Y sttutes an expedient tol retain the corresponding brake head I5 in assembled position on the. endL` ofthe brake beam, which expedient is ef'fective even in the absence of the hexagonal nut 2 I. l On each end of the brakev beam assemblyl a third expedient to yprevent dislodgment of the l correspo'r'i'dingr vbrake head I5 comprises a retain# ingy means 3,3 which maybe aptly termed a com'- bned retaining means since it is a combined brakehead retainer and Vnut lock. 'This cornbinecl retaining means 3'0 has a shank portion i adar'nted'toy be secured to the compression' location where there is not enough room withinl ber II by suitable rivets. In the present construction the end of the shank portion is offset, as indicated at 3|, to overlie the C-shaped member 23 s0 that the previously mentioned rivet 26 may anchor both the combined retaining means 33 and the C-shaped member 23 to the compression member II. A second-rivet 32 anchors the combined retaining means. 30 to the. compression member at a second point.

The combined retaining means '33 extends around the corresponding brake head I5 and provides at its outer end two spaced walls 33 and 34 that overhang the inclined face 22 on the outer side of the brake head I5. Preferably these two overhanging walls 33 and 34 are interconnected peripherally by a third wall 35, so that the three walls form a pocket 36 at the outer end of the combined retaining means.

As shown in Fig. 4, the inner wall 33 of the two overhanging walls has a non-circular opening 3l; to receive the corresponding hexagonal nutZ I -ior locking the nut against rotation. Preierably the opening 31 has twelve angles for permitting relatively ne adjustment of the nut, The outer wall 34 of the two overhanging walls, isA positioned to block outward axial movement oi the nut 2|, and it is to be noted that the outer wall 33 is close enough to the inner wall 33 to, prevent the nut 2i from escaping outwardI from; the non-circular opening 3.1 inthe inner wall. Preferably the outer overhanging wall 34 has arr aperture '38 slightly larger in diameter tlfianfthe tension member I2 tov clear'the end of thetension member, if necessary.

Preferably a further expedient to prevent movement of a brake head I5' at the. end of the.. brake beaml assembly out of its normal position is provided. This additional expedient comprises a simple 'rivet 43' with al head 4I, which rivet is looselyy tted into two registered. bores `ft2'. andl 43"`in the brake head I5 and in the compression member II, respectively. Itis to be noted that the'co'mbined retainingmeans 33 extends across the rivet 4'0 and'therebyrv blocks withdrawal movement of the rivet from its eective. position. While the rivet is only loosely held in place, nevertheless it serves in a positive manner to block outward'movement of tl'iebrake head relative to the compression member. Thus'I solve the problem` oiproviding a, 'rivet' fastening means at this.y

the' brake head to` accommodate a tool for buching a'rivet.

It is apparent,r then, that there are` four dis. tinct sub-combinations acting independently toE maintain each of the brake heads, I5. in itsfas'- sembled position, the sub-combinations. being;` rst, the Vcombination ofv the nut 2l. and. the't tension member I2, on` which, the nut isfthreaded.;

second, the C-shaped member 23 in combina .tionv with the compression' member. Il @n 'v'vhieh'itgis mounted, and, of course, in. combination withthe brake head with respect to the heretobrem'eng.- tioned spreading actionl inherent'in, the. brall'e;l head;y third, thc colmbinatiri of theconibinedre.;- "taining means '30 and theN compression 'member combination, with the( retaining meansy 3Q, thatf blocks withdrawal of the rivet. y

Since hsefour exeediens 0r. Sub-centime:- tifii- @liter 11,1.' their nsiiirenielementsii vis are:

parent that a number of: the` elements may fail and still leave at least one of the sub-combinations effective for the purpose of keeping the brake head I5 in its assembled position.

A feature of the invention in the form shown in Figs. l to 4 is the number of functions performed by the combined retaining means 30. These functions are: rst, to block outward movement of the corresponding brake head I5; second, to lock the nut 2i` against rotation; third, to block outward `axial movement of the nut; and fourth, to block withdrawal of the loose rivet 40. Even if the outer overhanging end of the combined retaining member 3@ were to be broken o; the remainder would serve to block withdrawal of the rivet tu.

f An important advantage of. providing each of the combined `retaining means with an outer wall 34fin the path of outward movement of the corresponding nut 2l be understoodby considering what would be the effect of one of the brake heads I5 breaking in such manner as to no longer cooperate .with the associated nut 2l. As long as each of the brake heads I5 is in eiective abutment with the inner face of the corresponding nut 2l, the tension member I2 is effectively anchored against longitudinal movement since longitudinal movement in one direction is 'opposed by one of the two nuts. and longitudinal movement in the opposite direction is opposed by the other of the two nuts.

If one of the brake heads I5 were to fail completely the outer overhanging wall 34 of the two combined retaining means 35 at the ends of the brake beam assembly would serve the same purpose, since one of the outer walls 34 in cooperation with the corresponding nut 2l would oppose longitudinal movement of the tension member I2 in one direction, while the outer wall 35 on the other end of thebrake beam assembly, in combination with the other nut, would oppose the opposite longitudinal movement of the tension member. Thus the nut and the brake head at each end of the brake beam assembly forms a sub-combination having the primary purpose of interconnecting the tension member and the compression member as well as the purpose of securing the tension member against longitudinal movement, while the nut, together with the combined retaining means 3i! at each 'end oi" the brake beam, comprise a` second sub-combination that may perform the same function if such performance is made necessary by failure of the rst subcombination.

A special advantage of providing each of the retaining means 3i! with an overhanging outer wall 3e. to block outward movement of the corresponding nut El is that the tension member I2 may be broken into two pieces without danger of either of the two pieces shifting or traveling longitudinally outward through the corresponding brake head I5. Each overhanging outer wall 34 blocks axial outward movement of the corresponding nut ZI and is close enough to the corresponding inner wall 33 to coniine the nut to the non-circular aperture 3'! in the inner wall. Thus the outer wall 3d provides insurance against the corresponding nut rotating even when the tension member l2 is broken into two pieces. In the event the tension member l2 breaks into two pieces there may be a tendency for each of the two pieces of the broken tension member to thread its way longitudinally outward through the corresponding nut 2i. When the end of the threads on the end of the tension member I2 is reached, however, such outward threading action is stopped since the nut is locked against rotation. i

The second form of the invention shown Iin Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is largely similar to the form just described, as indicated by the use of corresponding numerals to indicate corresponding` parts. The` compression member IIa chosen for illustration is of rectangular cross-sectional connguration with a flat back or web I4. The tension member I2 and each of the brake heads I5a are of the same general construction as hereto-` fore described. A flat head rivet 45 is, however,v substituted for the previous round head rivet 40, and the bore ft2 for the rivets and the brake head Ita is countersunlr to avoid protrudence of the rivet head.

The combined retaining means 30a shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is similar to the previously de-` scribed retaining means 35, but has a shorter shank or base portion it, which base portion is anchored to the compression member II by suitable rivets d'l. Instead of the previously described C-shaped retaining or anti-spreading member 23 I may employ a member 5D for the same purpose.

The anti-spreading member 5i) has a baseporapplied to existing brake beam assemblies with-` out the necessity for dismantling such assemblies to any degree whatsoever.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 8,*9 and 10 .is largely similar to the forms heretofore described. The particular compression member 55, chosen for illustration, is of rectangular channel shape in cross-sectional conguration, as

shown, and the brake head 56 conforms to such;

configuration. A combined retaining means 33h is employed, which combined means is of the same general construction heretofore described, as indicated by corresponding numerals used for corresponding parts. The combined retaining means 35h differs, however, in its base portion 57` by means of which it is attached to the compression` member 55. rl'he base portion is angular in crosssectional configuration, comprising a web 58 with a ange 56, the web and ange being shaped and dimensioned to lie snugly against the back and one side or flange, respectively, of the compression member. By virtue of this construction of the base portion 51 the combined retaining means 30h is secured rigidly to the compression member 55 by a single rivet Ii I.

Adjacent the inner end of the combined retaining means 35h is an anti-spreading member 62 having a hook-shaped portion 63 at one end to engage the rod-shaped tension member 65, and having a base portion at the other end adapted for attachment to the compression member 55. The base portion of the anti-spreading member 62 is of angular configuration, as shown in Fig. 10, to lie snugly against the outer surfaces of both the back and one flange of the compression member. By virtue of this configuration the antispreading member 62 is rigidly secured to the compression member by a, single rivet 66.

If the channel-shaped compression member in Fig. 8 were of rounded cross-sectional configuration the base portion of the described combined asias-se retaining means. 30hwoul'd be shapedto correspondingrounded configuration. The sectional view of Fig. 11 shows, by way of example, how a base portion 6.1 of a combined retaining means may be. shaped to lie snugly against the curved surface of a compression member 68. It is apparent that the base portion E? is oi suicientextent transversely of the compression member to baanchored rigidly thereto by a single rivet lli.

While the invention vhas been shown applied to. brake. beam assemblies having compression members of given channel-shaped cross-sectional configuration, it is to be understood that the invention may .be practiced with compression members. ofk other configurations.

My description herein in specific' detail of two embodiments of the invention for the purpose of disclosure and to illustrate the principlesy involved will suggest to those skilled. in the. art various. changes and substitutions within. the scope or the appended. claims.

I claim as my invention:

1,111 a brake. beam, a truss structure comprising tension and compression member-s, a strut between'intermediate portions of said members., brake heads mounted on the ends of said struc-- ture, nuts on the ends of said tension member abutting. the. outboard sides of said heads, and' a combined nut lock and retainer element at eachwend of said. structure comprising a portion overlapping. the rear side of the adjacent head and connected to said' compression member in boardly of saidy head, a wall connected to said' portion and extending around the outboard side of the adjacent headv and sleeved over the corresponding nut to prevent unwanted rotation of the nut, another wall spaced from said firstmentioned wall to limit outward movement of thel nut, and a U-shaped web surrounding said nut' and interconnecting said walls, sa-id rstmentioned 'wall being spaced from the associated head-a distance less than the axial dimension of the nut and the second-mentioned wall being spaced from said rst-mentioned wall a distance less-than said dimension of said nut whereby said nut is prevented from escaping between said first-mentioned wall and said head or between said-walls -in the event the tension member is broken and said nut becomes disconnected thereu from, said webl preventing separation of said walls.

2. `In a brake beam, a truss structure comprising tension and compression members, brake heads'rnounted on the ends of said members, each 8 or" said heads. providing. a path of withdrawal therefrom for said tension 4member diverging with respect `to said compression member,.thereby requiring lateral movement of the. tension member relative to ther compression member for separation of the tensionmember from the assembled brake. head, nuts on the outer ends. of said ten sionmember'abutting the outer sides of said brake heads', clamp members interconnecting the tension. member and the compression member adjacent: each. end of the structure' inwardly of the' corresponding brake. head to prevent the said members; from. spreading apart at their ends, each clamp member. having a hook-shaped portionto engage said tension member and having a base portion extending over and in back of said. compression niember', a retaining element for each brake head comprisingr a rivet having an abutnrent kseated against the rear ofv the. head1 and having a shank extendingy through aligned openings in the head andl compression member, a, combined nut lock and brakev head retaining means at each: end of said` compression memberv connected thereto and having a wall extendingA across the rear' of the adjacent brake head inl overlapping relationship to the abutment means of the adjacent retaining member and overlapping the base portionA of the adjacent clamp and` connected therewith to said,y compression memv ber, saidv wall extending around the outboard Sider of the adjacent head and apertured to surround the corresponding nut tol prevent rotation thereof, said retaining means. having a second wall spaced outward from said first-mentioned wall to limit outward movement of the nut, and a' U-shaped websurrounding the nut and connect-y ingsaid walls.

CARL R. MOLINE..

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iiie of thisY patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.

448,929 SceetsA Mar. 24,1891 503,441 Simpson Aug. 15, 1893` 528,238 Robischung Oct. 30, 1894 609,396 Aglar Aug. 23, 1898A 990,938v Williams May 2, 1911 1,024,291- Stein Apr. 23, 19121 1,313,982 Chandler Aug. 26,I 1919 2,391,329 Moliney Dec. 18, 1945 

